Satisfactory Academic Progress

A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of no less than 3.0 must be maintained to remain in good academic standing and is required for award of the graduate degree. All graduate courses taken for graduate credit after matriculation as a degree candidate (except those audited, taken for the grade of CR, or transferred from an outside institution) will be used in the calculation of the GPA. Students can take an additional six credit hours of coursework beyond the credits required for their graduate degree to raise their GPA to the 3.0 GPA minimum requirement to graduate. Students who after the additional six credits still do not meet the 3.0 GPA minimum will be dismissed from their graduate program.

Standards of Graduate Programs Satisfactory Academic Progress

All students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to be eligible to continue enrollment in their graduate program. To maintain eligibility students must:

Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0

Complete at least 67 percent of attempted courses each semester

Receive no more than one notation of Z in any given semester

Complete all degree requirements within five calendar years of matriculation

The initial responsibility for recognizing academic difficulty and for taking steps to resolve it rests with the student. Those encountering academic difficulty in courses or other degree requirements are expected to consult with the appropriate faculty member and their academic advisor immediately and, if necessary, to seek additional assistance.

Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress may be required to meet with their academic advisor to develop an academic plan, which will include an anticipated timeline to complete remaining degree requirements. Students who are required to submit an academic plan will then be required to meet with their academic advisor prior to registration for the next semester to ensure progress is being made.

Please note:

Attempted coursework is defined as any course that receives a letter grade, credit/no credit, withdrawal (W), notation of Z, missing grade, or an incomplete (I).

Students who receive more than one notation of Z per semester will have a registration hold placed on their account until their academic plan has been submitted and received all approvals required.

The Director for Specialized Master's Programs, Director for MBA Programs, and/or Associate Dean for Graduate Programs reserves the right to restrict the number of credit hours a student may register for depending on the severity of the situation.

Academic Standing

A graduate student who is not on academic probation or suspension is considered to be in good standing. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained and is required for the awarding of a graduate degree. All graduate courses and undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit after matriculation as a degree candidate (except those audited or taken for Credit/No Credit) will be used in the calculation of the GPA.

Students will be allowed to complete up to 6 credits of graduate-level coursework beyond the program requirement to achieve the 3.0 GPA minimum.

A student who is below a 3.0 cumulative GPA and does not have enough credits remaining in their program, including the 6 credits referenced above, to attain the 3.0 GPA will be dismissed. There is no appeal possible for dismissal.

Academic Probation

Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 at any point after completing nine credits are put on academic probation.

While on probation, a student must:

Achieve at least at 3.0 (term) GPA in each subsequent semester

Be continuously enrolled or on an approved leave of absence or continuous enrollment

Not receive a grade of F in any course

Not receive a notation of Incomplete (I) in any course

A student who fails to meet the above four conditions will be suspended from their program.

Academic Suspension

A student who does not meet the conditions of probation will be suspended. Students may request reinstatement from a suspension by completing and submitting the Request for Reinstatement Form. The request should offer a clear explanation of changed circumstances and how the student plans to raise his/her cumulative GPA to 3.0. The request must be submitted within one semester of being suspended.

Students suspended in:

The fall semester must request reinstatement no later than the last day of the spring semester following their suspension.

The spring or summer semester must request reinstatement no later than the last day of the fall semester immediately following their suspension.